Wooden canoe paddle is painted red at the paddle end with a thick white stripe across the center. On one side is painted a red sea horse and on the other is a red and blue shield with the Olympic rings painted at the top of the shield. The handle has red at the top and there are two white sailor knot bracelets tied to the handle at the center. This canoe paddle was used by the 1936 Olympics canoeing team and belonged to Mr. Claussen, the coach of the Olympic canoeing team, who was instrumental in making canoeing an official Olympic sport.
The 1936 Summer Olympic Games, also known as the Games of the XI Olympiad were held in Berlin, Germany and included 49 countries, 3,632 men and 331 women athletes participating. These games were the first to be televised as the airship Hindenberg flew over the stadium during the opening ceremonies flying the Olympic flag. The Olympic torch relay was debuted at these Games as were the sports of basketball, handball, and canoeing. These games are noted for Hitler’s promotion of Nazi propaganda and racial supremacy forcing Jewish athletes to be excluded from competition. Hitler’s ideals of a master race were undermined by the performance of African American Jesse Owens and his four gold medals in track and field events, making him the most decorated athlete of the Games. Germany won the medal count with 89 with the United States coming in a distant second with 56 medals.